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Be prepared

With their high levels of energy, endless curiosity, and remarkable ability
to bounce back from stumbles and falls, children often put themselves at risk of
injury. This can be especially true when they’re exploring the great outdoors. Learn
how to keep your child safe while they’re:

playing sports

biking

hiking

spending time near water

spending time outdoors

Sports

Whether played as a team or alone, sports are a great activity for kids.
Playing sports can help them:

get outdoors

make new friends

exercise regularly

develop new skills

learn how to work on a team

But organized sports do come with the risk of physical injury. To lower your
child’s risk of getting hurt, teach them basic, sport-specific safety
strategies, and share these general guidelines:

Always wear the proper gear, such as supportive
footwear, a helmet designed for the sport you’re playing, and protective
eyewear if necessary.

Learn the rules of the game, and don’t push yourself to
play above your skill level.

Play on a well-kept court or field, and check for
hazards before starting.

Warm up before playing to avoid sprains or strains, and
cool down when you’re done.

Report injuries right away, because staying on the
court or field when you’re hurt can worsen an existing injury.

Bicycling

Bicycle riding offers children a sense of freedom and mobility like little
else, but it also comes with the risk of falls and collisions. Teach your kids
how to stay as safe as possible while cycling. First and foremost, they
should wear a bike helmet that fits properly. Teach them how to adjust the
straps and pads to keep it snug; a poorly adjusted helmet will do little to
protect your child’s head during a fall. It’s important to ensure that your
child has mastered basic bike-handling skills before they venture into areas
where they’ll be sharing the road with cars, given the threat that automobiles
pose to cyclists.

It’s also important to teach your child the rules of the road. These rules
include:

riding in the same direction as cars

stopping and obeying traffic signals

watching closely for cars that are turning, leaving
driveways, or opening doors

not riding on sidewalks

Teach them that bicycling can be lots of fun, but it’s important to pay
attention. Horsing around or getting distracted while riding can lead to
serious accidents. Riding at nighttime is also risky.

Camping
and hiking

The most important safety tip for camping and hiking is to be prepared,
because you never know when the weather may shift, the trail may peter out, or
your kid may take a tumble in the woods.

Help your child dress and pack for their trip. Don’t forget to pack:

layers of condition-appropriate clothes to keep
them warm, dry, and shielded from the sun in all weather

an extra blanket or layer of clothes

comfortable hiking shoes

basic first-aid supplies

sunscreen

water and food

Getting lost in the woods is scary and dangerous. Children can sometimes get
excited and rush ahead, without keeping an eye on their surroundings. Help them
understand the importance of staying on the trail, paying attention to their
surroundings, and looking for landmarks along the way. Teach them how to react
if they dobecome lost. They should stay calm, stay put, and
send a loud signal for help. Give them a whistle and flashlight to carry, just
in case.

Help your kid learn about common poisonous plants, such as poison ivy,
before hitting the trails. They can limit their exposure to problem plants and
bugs by staying on cleared paths and wearing long sleeves and pants. Check them
thoroughly for ticks at the end of every day in nature. Ticks can spread dangerous
infections, including Lyme disease, and they’re often found in areas where
children love to play: bushes, tall grass, and sand dunes.

Teach your child not to drink untreated water while they’re out in the
wilderness. They should always assume that water in nature is contaminated. To
avoid becoming ill due to drinking dirty water, your child should pack
sufficient bottled water for their journey or carry some means of purifying
water, such as a filter or iodine tablets.

Water
activities

Whether your child is spending time near a lake, creek, or wading pool,
water safety is essential. Even if they don’t plan to get wet, they could
accidentally fall in. One of the best ways to keep them safe is to teach them
how to swim. Swimming lessons can help them learn how to tread water, move in
water, recognize dangerous situations, and recover if they accidentally fall
in. Remind them not to swim alone or without adult supervision.

Even if your child knows how to swim, they should always wear a well-fitting
lifejacket when they’re in a boat.

Seasonal safety

Each season has its own set of fun outdoor activities, weather conditions, and
safety concerns. Always check the weather before your child heads outside for
the day. Help them dress and pack for the conditions.

In fall and spring, allergy symptoms can become a problem, especially if your
child has asthma, pollen allergies, or insect allergies. Ask their doctor how
to avoid their allergy triggers, and make sure their allergy medication is
readily available whenever they are in nature.

In winter, ice and snow can make accidents much more common. When there’s
snow on the ground, remind your kids to take extra care when they’re playing
outdoors. Help them dress in layers, including a waterproof outer layer, to
stay warm and dry. Exposure to the cold can lead to frostbite or hypothermia.

In summer, your kids need to know how to manage the risks of sunburn and
heatstroke. It’s essential to teach them how ultraviolet rays from the sun can
harm them. Help them put on sunscreen before they go outside to play, and remind
them to wear sunglasses and a hat. Have them pack a water bottle to help them
stay hydrated.

Prevention is the best medicine

The great outdoors are an ideal place for your kids to get
active, learn about the world, and have fun with friends, but they also present
their own set of risks. Teach your kids basic strategies for staying safe while
spending time outside. Help them pack the clothes, equipment, or refreshments
they need for a fun-filled day, and make sure they have adult supervision until
they’re old enough to play outside alone. Accidents and injuries happen, but
many of them are preventable.